Environmental filtering and spatial processes equally contributed to macroinvertebrate metacommunity dynamics in the highly urbanized river networks in Shenzhen, South China

Abstract Background Disentangling the relative roles of environmental filtering and spatial processes in structuring ecological communities is a central topic metacommunity ecology. Metacommunity ecology temperate river ecosystems has been well developed, while less attention paid to subtropical urban networks. Here, we examined factors seasonal difference macroinvertebrates assembly networks Shenzhen, South China. Results Our results revealed that there was no significant distinction macroinvertebrate community composition among seasons, with only abundance Mollusca Odonata significantly differed both wet dry seasons. One possible explanation most are generally pollution-tolerant taxa characterized nonseasonal life cycle. In addition, distance-based redundancy analysis variation partitioning approach determined equally by dispersal-related factors. Further, our showed that, although slight temporal contribution, identity power were different Specifically, stronger dynamics observed than which might be owing higher heterogeneity under low water-flow condition. Moreover, detected influence indicating an obvious dispersal due high connectivity sites. Conclusion Overall, explained variations metacommunity, implying necessity considering bioassessment programs. degraded habitat conditions water quality predominant affected communities, significance feasibility improving local abiotic sustain biodiversity. findings importance these metacommunity. Thereby, study improves understanding governing underlines idea studies should go beyond single snapshot survey